Grumman G-164B accident near Ville Platte, Louisiana, May 11, 1993
On May 11, 1993 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Grumman G-164B, registered N91AY, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ville Platte, Louisiana (Private airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN GROUND CLEARANCE
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 1993 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ville Platte, Louisiana · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164B · all G-164Bs on the register
- Registration
- N91AY · no longer on the register · serial 187B
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING SPRAYING OPERATIONS THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO FLY UNDER SOME ELECTRICAL POWER LINES. HE FLEW TOO LOW AND IMPACTED THE GROUND, SEVERING THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR. AFTER GROUND IMPACT THE PILOT RETURNED TO A GRASS STRIP ON A LOCAL FARM AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND. DURING THE LANDING THE AIRPLANE CARTWHEELED
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,400 hours in all; 1,400 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 4,250 as pilot in command; 200 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,617 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 14, 1992; 112 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,445 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 165° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.